New OINP Employer Portal and Deadlines: What Employers and Applicants Need to Know

By Laura Ricaurte and Miho Kitamura

On July 2, 2025, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) launched a new Employer Portal and updated the application process for its Employer Job Offer streams. These changes impact both employers and foreign nationals looking to apply under the following streams:

• Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream

• Employer Job Offer: International Student stream

• Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream

As immigration lawyers based in Ontario, we’re here to help guide you through these important changes and ensure your applications meet all new requirements.

Key Changes to the Process

Previously, candidates could register an Expression of Interest (EOI) independently. Under the new system, employers must now take the first step by submitting a job offer through the new Employer Portal. Only then can candidates proceed with registration.

About the New Employer Portal

To submit a job offer, employers must now:

• Create a My Ontario Account following these guidelines

• Register the business profile

• Access the new Employer Portal

• Submit job offers through the system

A company’s signing officer must initiate the process but can then authorize multiple employer contacts to assist with the job offer preparation. Once a draft is ready, the signing officer can appoint an authorized legal representative, like our firm, to finalize and submit the job offer on the employer’s behalf.

Note: Once the legal representative is appointed, one can no longer edit certain fields like the applicant’s name, email address, or job title, so it’s crucial to input this information accurately from the start.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating the Employer Portal and Submitting a Job Offer

Step 1: Access the Portal

• Use the latest version of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge.

• Visit the OINP e-Filing portal.

Step 2: Sign Up for My Ontario

• Complete the reCAPTCHA and click “Create Account.”

• Choose the role of “New Employer.”

• Returning users should log in and select “New Employer.”

Step 3: Register as an Employer

• An authorized signing officer of the business completes the registration and declaration.

• Only one signing officer is allowed per business registration.

• Information entered during registration cannot be changed later—accuracy is critical. Information required to register as an Employer include:

  • CRA Number

  • Legal name and operating name (if different)

  • Incorporation/registration number

  • Employer address and contact info

  • Signing officer’s name, job title, phone number, and email

Step 4: Complete the Employer Profile

• From the landing page, select the “Employer Profile” tile.

• Enter required information to complete the Employer’s Profile including:

  • Date of establishment/incorporation

  • Legal structure

  • Previous fiscal year start and end dates

  • Gross revenue for the most recent fiscal year

  • NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) economic sector code (2-digit)

  • Number of business locations in Ontario

  • Number of full-time Canadian/permanent resident employees

  • Confirmation of compliance with Ontario labour legislation

• Submit to finalize the profile. 

Step 5: Add an Employer Contact (Optional)

• On the landing page, select “Employer Contact” → “Add New Contact.”

• Provide contact’s name, job title, phone number, and email.

• Only the signing officer can add or remove contacts.

Step 6: Submit a Job Offer

• Go to “Job Offer and Application Dashboard” → “Create New Job Offer.”

• Select the applicable stream:

  • Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream

  • Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream

  • Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream

• Enter:

  • Employee’s full name and personal email address

  • Job title and NOC code (5 digits)

  • Hourly wage

  • Full business location address where the employee will work or report

  • Whether the worksite is within the GTA

• Confirm that the position is full-time and permanent.

Important: After creating the draft, the signing officer may appoint a legal representative to complete and submit the job offer. Once submitted, certain fields cannot be edited.

Step 7: Submit an Application for Approval of an Employment Position

Once the applicant receives an Invitation to Apply (ITA), the employer must submit a separate application for position approval within 14 calendar days.

To complete this step:

• Access the “Job Offer and Application Dashboard,” select the job offer, and click on “Edit.”

• The system will prepopulate much of the information based on the employer registration, job offer, and profile.

• Review and confirm required job offer details such as:

  • Whether the employee currently works for the business

  • Job duties and justification for the role

  • Wage and work schedule

  • Recruitment efforts if no LMIA has been issued

  • Regulated profession requirements, if applicable

• Upload all supporting documents (e.g. LMIA, recruitment summary, proof of business revenue, etc.)

• Complete the representative declaration (if applicable)

• Complete the employer declaration by the authorized signing officer

• Submit the application

Important: The application must be submitted within 14 calendar days of receiving the ITA. If you miss this deadline, the job offer will be withdrawn and the process will need to be restarted. After submission, no changes can be made in the portal. Any updates must be requested via webform

Important Deadlines

Once the job offer is submitted, three strict deadlines must be followed:

1. EOI Registration: The applicant must register their Expression of Interest (EOI) within 30 calendar days from the date the job offer was submitted.

2. Employer Position Approval: After the candidate receives an Invitation to Apply (ITA), the employer must submit a separate application for position approval within 14 calendar days of the ITA date.

3. Applicant’s Nomination Application: The candidate must then submit their nomination application and pay the government fee within 17 calendar days from the date the ITA was issued.

Failing to meet any of these deadlines may result in the need to restart the process with a new job offer, which can delay the entire pathway to permanent residence.

What Employers and Applicants Should Know

These updates streamline the process and give employers a more central role in provincial nominations. However, they also introduce stricter deadlines and reduced flexibility. It's essential to ensure proper coordination between the employer, the applicant, and their legal representatives.

Furthermore, as of June 28, 2025, the OINP also now has the authority to return incomplete applications that do not meet minimum submission requirements. No request for missing information will be issued before returning the file, making it critical to ensure all documents and information are complete and accurate at the time of submission.

How We Can Help

Our team has extensive experience managing Employer Job Offer applications and is already set up with a My Ontario Account. We can assist your organization by:

• Supporting your signing officer in setting up the Employer Portal

• Preparing and reviewing job offers

• Registering applicants’ EOIs within the deadlines

• Submitting complete and compliant applications

• Navigating the strict timelines introduced by the new rules

Whether you're an employer looking to fill a key role or a foreign worker hoping to secure permanent residence through the OINP, we’re here to help you navigate the process efficiently and accurately.

Have Questions?

Contact us to learn how we can support your organization or application under the newly updated Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.